A PREMIERE MUSKY TOURNAMENT IS GOING TO BE HOSTED ON LAKE OF THE WOODS IN 2026.THE PROFESSIONAL MUSKY TOURNAMENT TRAIL RECON BOATS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE SEPTEMBER 17-19. JERRY’S RESTAURANT AND BAR AT THE NORTHWEST ANGLE WILL BE “TOURNAMENT CENTRAL”.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAKE OF THE WOODS TOURISM JOE HENRY SAID “THIS IS A MARQUEE EVENT FOR MUSKY ANGLERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. HOSTING THIS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWCASES ONE OF THE MOST LEGENDARY FISHERIES IN THE WORLD AND HIGHLIGHTS THE UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY, RESORTS, AND FISHING HERITAGE THAT MAKES THIS PART OF LAKE OF THE WOODS SO SPECIAL.”
LIFECARE MEDICAL CENTER IS IMPLEMENTING VISITOR RESTRICTIONS AT THE HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME AND THEIR ASSISTED LIVING CAMPUSES AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASED POSITIVITY RATES FOR FLU AND OTHER ILLNESSES. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ONLY TWO VISITORS WILL BE ALLOWED PER PATIENT OR RESIDENT. IF YOU ARE SICK, THEY ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REFRAIN FROM VISITING.
HUNTERS HAVE HARVESTED 186,203 DEER DURING THE 2025 HUNTING SEASONS, WHICH IS A 9% STATEWIDE INCREASE OVER THE 2024 SEASONS. THAT NUMBER HELD TRUE IN THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE STATE, WHICH ALSO SAW THE 9% INCREASE.
IN AG NEWS, CHINA HAS PURCHASED MORE US SOYBEANS, AS THEIR TOTAL PURCHASE APPROACHES 10 MILLION TONS. THAT NUMBER REPRESENTS ABOUT 80% OF THE TOTAL COMMITMENT THEY HAD PLEDGED TO PURCHASE BY FEBRUARY.
IN 2025 KITTSON COUNTY LED THE STATE IN DAMAGE PAYMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH WOLF DAMAGE TO LIVESTOCK AND ELK DAMAGE TO AGRICULTURAL LAND. WOLF DAMAGE PAYMENTS IN THE COUNTY TOTALED $40,000, MORE THAN DOUBLE A NORMAL YEAR. STATEWIDE PAYMENTS HIT RECORD HEIGHTS FOR THE YEAR, WITH NEARLY $200,000 BEING PAID OUT. LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 100% COMPENSATION, UP TO $20,000, IF IN AN ANIMAL IS CONFIRMED TO HAVE BEEN LOST TO A WOLF. MARK ABRAHAMSON, PLANT PROTECTION DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AG, SAYS THE RECORD PAYMENTS ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH MORE INCIDENTS, BUT RATHER THE VALUE OF LIVESTOCK. “BACK SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO THE MARKET VALUE WE WERE PAYING WAS ABOUT $1100 FOR CALVES, NOW IT’S CLOSE TO $2,700.” IF YOU HAVE CLAIMS TO MAKE, CALL 651-201-6400. WOLF CLAIMS MUST BE MADE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF DISCOVERY.
JANUARY 19 IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST FREE PARK DAY OF 2026 AT MINNESOTA STATE PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS. ON THAT DATE, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE A VEHICLE PERMIT TO VISIT ANY OF THOSE 73 AREAS. THE MINNESOTA DNR OFFERS FOUR SUCH DAYS PER YEAR.
FARMERS UNION OIL COMPANY OF WARROAD RECENTLY MADE THE PURCHASE OF THE CONVENIENCE STORE IN WASKISH. THEY’VE ANNOUNCED NOW THAT THEIR FUEL PUMPS ARE OPEN FOR 24-7 PAY AT THE PUMP PURCHASES. THE STORE IS NOT YET OPEN FOR IN STORE PURCHASES OF FUEL OR OTHER PRODUCTS.
GOVERNOR TIM WALZ PROCLAIMED TODAY A DAY OF UNITY, INVITING ALL MINNESOTANS AND AMERICANS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTS OF SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF RENEE NICOLE GOOD. HE ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, FAITH INSTITUTIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT 10 AM AND USE THE DAY TO CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WILL NOW ALIGN IT’S IMMUNIZATION GUIDANCE WITH PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS RATHER THAN THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. IT COMES AFTER THE CDC OVERHAULED THE CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE EARLIER THIS WEEK TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ROUTINELY RECOMMENDED VACCINES. MINNESOTA COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH DR. BROOKE CUNNINGHAM SAYS “THE CHANGE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL DOES REFLECT THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE.” WITH THIS MOVE, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND VACCINES AGAINST 17 INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
THE MINNESOTA DNR IS LOOKING FOR PASSIONATE AND DEDICATED STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCE-RELATED CAREERS THROUGH SUMMER INTERNSHIPS. INTERNS WILL WORK FROM 20-40 HOURS PER WEEK AT A WAGE OF $19 PER HOUR. POSITIONS BECOME AVAILABLE IN MAY AND JUNE. APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH FEBRUARY 2. THE POSITIONS CAN BE IN FISHERIES, FORESTRY, PARK OPERATIONS, WATERCRAFT INSPECTIONS, COMMUNICATIONS AND MORE.
Last modified: 01/09/2026
